Yaya DaCosta Says She Has “Fully Forgiven” Tyra Banks for Past “ANTM” Trauma
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Yaya DaCosta is letting go of the past. The former America’s Next Top Model contestant recently shared that she has “fully forgiven” Tyra Banks for the challenges she faced while competing on the reality show in the early 2000s.
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Banks, who launched ANTM in 2003, has faced criticism in recent years as resurfaced clips from the show highlighted controversial moments, from harsh critiques to problematic challenges. However, DaCosta made it clear that she’s moved forward.
During the ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Awards, Banks addressed the backlash she’s received over the years, acknowledging that the show wasn’t always perfect. “I said some dumb sh-t,” she admitted in her speech. “But I refuse to have my legacy be about some stuff linked together on the internet when there were 24 [seasons] of changing the world.”
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She also spoke about the challenges of pushing for diversity in the fashion industry. “People in the fashion industry were telling me, ‘You putting the girls from the hood on your show?’ I was like, ‘Why can the girl from the trailer park become a supermodel, but the girl that’s chillin’ in the park in the hood can’t?’ And we fought, and we struggled, and we made it happen,” Banks explained.
DaCosta, who finished as the runner-up in Season 3, later took to Instagram to share her thoughts on Banks’ speech. In a candid video, she reflected on the emotional toll of being on ANTM, calling out producers for “manipulative editing,” “weaponizing girls’ weaknesses,” and even contributing to body image struggles among contestants. She also noted that the most shocking moments never even made it to air.
Despite those challenges, DaCosta said she has found peace. She revealed that she attended the ESSENCE awards but had stepped away when Banks gave her speech. However, she ran into the former supermodel backstage, and they had a heartfelt conversation.
“I was so excited in this moment to walk over to her, to reach for her hands, and to greet her with warmth, with gratitude, with love,” DaCosta shared. She admitted that in the past, the two had been in the same room but never spoke. This time, however, she wanted Banks to know that she had moved on.
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“Y’all, I held that woman, and when it was time for the hug to be over, I held some more,” she said. “I took a deep breath because I wanted her to feel what it feels like to be fully forgiven, appreciated, and loved.”
While DaCosta acknowledged that Banks didn’t offer an explicit apology, she didn’t need one. The actress said she has healed from her experience and is focused on the lessons she’s learned.
Banks has continued to face criticism beyond ANTM, including during her time as host of Dancing with the Stars. Reports surfaced in 2022 describing her as difficult to work with, with crew members calling her “disrespectful” and alleging she created a “toxic” work environment. She left the show in 2023, saying she was ready to focus on business and producing.
Despite the controversy, DaCosta’s words show that time—and personal growth—can help heal old wounds.
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